Electrical switch



A 1942- v. TAUBNER 2,291,993

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed May 25, 1940 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL SWITCH Valentine Taubner, New York, N. Y. Application May 25, 1940, Serial No. 337,266

Claims.

This invention is a push-button electrical switch of a type which is capable of general use for making and breaking an electrical circuit.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple form of a rotatable-contact switch of maximum efliciency. A further object is to provide a switch of the character mentioned in which certain of the parts may be conveniently manufactured of sheet metal. A further object is to simplify the construction of switches of the type mentioned, so as to reduce the number of parts required.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation illustrating a switch constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure l. sectional view on the line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the switch base with the push button removed. Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55, Figure 4.

Figures 6 and '7 are detail plan and side views of the movable contact. Figure 8 is a detail view illustrating the cover member. Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the push button. Figure 10 is a detail bottom view of the rotor. Figure 11 is a detail plan view of .the disk which imparts rotative movements to the helical actuator for the rotor.

Referring to the drawing, B designates a base constructed of any desired shape and any suitable dielectric material. For the purpose of iilustration, the base is shown as consisting of a body having approximately straight side walls l0 joined at one end by an arcuate wall, and open at the other end, as indicated at H. The precise shape, however, may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exterior surface of the base is provided with one or more channels I 2, as clearly indicated in Figures 4 and 5, for a purpose to be later described. Located within the base is a chamber provided with a circular depression l3 which is shaped to provide a seat for fixed contacts l4, connected with conductors C leading from a source of electrical energy. Extending axially into said chamber I3 is a boss l5.

The chamber [3 is covered by a suitable insulating washer i6, upon which rests the bottom portion ll of a top member T, which receives and guides the push button P. The inner surface of the washer l6 may, if desired, be coated Figure 3 is a vertical with an insulating lacquer of any desired character.

The top member is preferably formed of sheet metal, although this is not essential, and is provided with anexteriorly threaded guide portion ll' having a cylindrical bore l8. The top member is also provided with inwardly projected ribs l9, which may be formed in any suitable manner, but where a sheet metal structure is'employed they may be conveniently formed by pressing portions of the wall inwardly. The screw threads on the guideportion may also be conveniently formed by rolling in a manner well understood in the sheet metal art. The contour of the bottom portion of the top member T conforms to the contour of the base B, as viewed from the top, and registers with the sides thereof in such manner that tongues or anchor strips 20, which project from the top member may be seated into the grooves 12, and having their ends bent under the base body into notches 2|, so as to normally retain the top member and the base member in assembled unitary relation. The threaded portion of the top member T is engaged by a nut N, the function of which will be later described.

The push button P is preferably constructed of tubular sheet metal provided with a shank 25 telescoping within the top member T and having its inner end provided with an annular enlargement 26, the latter being provided with grooves 21 to receive the ribs 19, so that axial movements of the push button with respect to the base and the top members may be eiiected, but rotation of the push button prevented. Located within the enlarged portion 26 of the push button is a circular disk 28, havin peripheral notches 29 complemental to and engaged with the ribs 19. Said disk 28 is also provided with a centrally disposed slot 30.

Located within the depression l3 of the chamber B and rotatively resting upon the boss 15 is a contact rotor 35 of dielectric material and circular form, the periphery of which is at all times in sliding engagement with the perpendicular wall of said depression. The arrangement is such that the rotative movements of thecontact rotor are guided by the said wall of the depression [3, and no other means is provided for preventing lateral or radial shifting thereof. The under surface of said contact rotor is provided with a diametrically disposed groove 36 to receive the body portion 31 of a contact member which is provided with contacts 38 so positioned as to engage the fixed contacts 14. The outer surface of the rotor 35 is provided with a recess 39, the surface of which is in the form of a plurality of ratchet teeth. Rotation of the rotor 35 is effected by means of a flat metal impeller strip 40, having a helical portion 4!, said member 40 also having a reduced lower end 42 rotatively mounted Within a complemental recess in the central portion of the rotor 35. The member 45 is also provided with an enlarged portion 43, which serves as a pawl to engage the ratchet-surfaced portion 39 of the rotor 35. It will be observed that the contact rotor 35 serves as a bearing for the lower end of the impeller strip 40, the upper end of the said impeller strip being supported and guided by the disk 28.

The push button P is normally projected outwardly from the base B by means of a suitable spring 44, one end of which bears against the enlarged portion 43 of the flat impeller 40, and the other end bears against disk 28, located within the enlarged portion 26 of the push button.

The rotor 35 and its contact 37, the impeller strip 40, the disk 28, push button P and the spring 44 are assembled and placed within the base B and top member T, after which in practice, the top member and the base member are united by the anchor strip 20 to constitute a single unitary structure. The rotor 35 will then be loosely mounted within the chamber [3, and its rotative movements Will be guided y the inner surface of said chamber. The impeller 40 will be so positioned that its reduced end 52 is rotatively mounted within the rotor 35, with the pawl it in engagement with the ratchet surface of the rotor. The impeller will be held in place by having its other end extended through the slot 30 of the disk 28, and engagement of the pawl 43 with the ratchet surface is yieldingly maintained by the spring 44 which also acts normally to project the disk 28 and the push button from the top member. Outward movement of the push button will be limited by the enlargement 26. The switch is secured in a suitable support by passing the threaded portion of the top member through an aperture in said support, and clamping the switch in place by means of nut N.

In operation, an inward movement of the push button against the tension of the spring 43 will impart a correspondingly inward movement to the disk 28. During such travel of the disk, when said slot 35 reaches the helical portion of the impeller, a rotative movement of approximately 45 will be imparted to the latter. Rotative movement of the impeller causes the ratchet 43 to engage shouldered portions of the ratchet teeth of the rotor, and thereby imparts corresponding rotation to the rotor 35, whereupon the contacts 38 are moved into travelling engagement with the fixed contacts I4. The relative proportions of the movable and fixed contacts are such that while the push button is projected from the top member in its normal position, the contacts are out of engagement. The inward movement of the push button efiects sufficient rotative movement of the rotor to first bring the contacts into engagement, and then by continued rotation to again brin them out of engagement, the latter condition being reached at about the end of the inward movement of the push button. When pressure upon the push button is released, the spring fi l will return the push button and the disk 28 to theirnormal positions, thereby effecting a reverse rotation of the impeller member 50, but owing to the pitch of the ratchet teeth of the rotor 35, the pawl 43 will merely slip over the ratoheted surface without imparting any movement whatever to the rotor. In this manner the parts are returned to normal circuit breaking positions, and in proper relation for the next operation of the push button.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be observed that a very simple and inexpensive form of switch is provided, and that parts may be readily constructed of sheet metal at a minimum of expense. By mounting the impeller within the switch structure as disclosed, and providing the illustrated type of engagement between the impeller and the rotor, a very simple means has been provided for maintaining the impeller in position.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, Or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical switch comprising a base member of dielectric material provided with a chamber having a circular depression, a circular contact-rotor freely rotatable within said depression with its periphery at all times movably engaging the surrounding wall of said depression and in such manner that rotative movements of said rotor are guided by said wall, contact members connected with the inner surface of said rotor, fixed contacts extended into said chamber to positions for engagement with the first mentioned contact members, a cover member for said base member, a spring-biased push button slidingly supported by the cover member, a reaction member movable with said push button, and an impeller strip slidingly engaged by said reaction member and having one extremity supported by and rotatively mounted in the outer surface of said contact rotor, so that the impeller strip is supported by said reaction member and said contact rotor, said impeller strip and said rotor having complemental means for preventing relative rotation in one direction.

2. An electrical switch comprising a base member of dielectric material provided with a chamber having a circular depression, a circular contact-rotor freely rotatable within said depression with its periphery at all times movably engaging the surrounding wall of said depression and in such manner that rotative movements of the retor are guided by said wall, the inner surface of said rotor having a diametrical groove therein, a contact member having a body portion seated within said groove and provided with contact arms disposed angularly with respect to said body portion, fixed contacts complemental to the first mentioned contacts, a cover member for said base having means positioned to cover said chamber, a spring-biased push button slidingly supported by the cover member with its axis coinciding with the center of said contact-rotor, a reaction member movable with said push button, and an impeller strip slidingly engaged by said reaction member and having one extremity supported by and rotatively mounted in the outer surface of said contact-rotor, so that the impeller strip is supported by said reaction member and said contact rotor, said impeller strip and said rotor having complemental means for preventing relative rotation in one direction.

3. An electrical switch comprising a base member of dielectric material provided with a chamber having a circular depression, and an axially disposed boss located therein, a circular contact rotor resting upon said boss and freely rotatable within said depression in such manner as to provide a space between the same and the base of the depression, the periphery of said contact rotor being at all times movably engaging the surrounding wall of said depression and in such manner that rotative movements thereof are guided by said wall, contact members connected with the inner surface of said rotor, fixed contacts extended into the space between the rotor and the bottom of said depression, a cover member for said base member, a spring-biased push button slidingly supported by the cover member, a reaction member movable with said push button, and an impeller strip slidingly engaged by said reaction member and having one extremity rotatively mounted in the outer surface of said contact rotor, so that the impeller strip is supported by said reaction member and said contact rotor, said impeller strip and said rotor having complemental means for preventing relative rotation in one direction.

4. An electrical switch comprising a base member of dielectric material provided with a chamber having a circular depression, a circular contact-rotor freely rotatable within said depression with its periphery at all times movably engaging the surrounding wall of said depression in such manner that rotative movements thereof are guided by said wall, the outer face of said rotor having a circular recess provided with ratchet teeth, said recess having an axial extension, contact members connected with the inner surface of said rotor, fixed contacts complemental to the said contact members, a cover member for said base member, a push button slidingly supported by the cover member, a reaction member movable with said push button, and an impeller strip having one end provided with a reduced extremity rotatively mounted in and supported by the axial recess in the outer surface of said rotor, said impeller strip being also extended through and supported by said reaction member, said impeller strip also having pawls engageable with said ratchet teeth.

5. An electrical switch comprising a base member of dielectric material provided with a chamber, a freely rotatable contact rotor located within said chamber and having its periphery in movable engagement with the surrounding chamber wall in such manner that rotative movements of the rotor are guided by said chamber, contact members connected with the inner surface of the rotor, fixed contact members within the chamber, a cover member of sheet metal secured to said base and having an exteriorly threaded sleeve-like extension, said extension having longitudinally disposed depressions therein providing interiorly projected ribs, a sheet metal push button telescoping with said sleeve-like extension and provided with a flange having recesses complemental to and engaging said ribs, a reaction member located within said sleeve-like extension and also having grooves complemental to said ribs, said reaction member being movable with said push button member, a spring interposed between said base and said reaction member so as to normally bias the push button to outwardly projected position, and an impeller strip having one end rotatively mounted within the outer surface of the impeller member and the other end slidably engaging and supported by said reaction member, the impeller strip and said contact rotor having means for preventing relative rotation in one direction.

VALENTINE TAUBNER. 

